LUKE O’Neill believes the best is yet to come from him at Southend United.
The 24-year-old produced an impressive performance to help the Shrimpers see off Coventry City 3-0 at Roots Hall on Saturday.
But O’Neill is now determined to kick on and find even better form to become a regular in Blues’ starting line-up.
“I was happy with how I played at the weekend but people haven’t seen the best of me here yet,” said the defender.
“I think you really need a run of games for that to happen and hopefully I can get that opportunity in the next few weeks.
“It’s hard when you’re going in and out of the team and I probably hadn’t played for six or seven weeks before I started against Swindon.
“Since then I think I’ve got better in every game we’ve had and I want to try and make sure that continues now so I can stay in the side.”
O’Neill joined Blues in late August but the right-back struggled to dislodge skipper John White from the starting line-up.
The defender did make four starts in a row in September but then missed out on 16 of the next 17 matches before being handed another opportunity.
And O’Neill’s latest chance has also seen him lining up as a wing-back, a role he believes suits his style of play.
“I like to get forward so I enjoy playing as a wing-back and I think it suits me as well,” said O’Neill.
“I have played there a few times before in the reserves at Burnley and I think playing this way has more the whole team look more solid.
“We feel as though we’ve turned a corner now and we’ve had two good results in a row.
“We’re not far off the play-offs at all and we all think we can finish in the top six because we have great players and a great manager as well.”
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